Salcido slams El Tri performance in Confederations Cup

Mexico left back Carlos Salcido pulled no punches in criticizing his team’s performance in El Tri’s 2-1 defeat to Italy on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro.

“I’ve always said we’re running around like crazy people and we lack depth in our play,” Salcido told reporters after the Confederations Cup game.

The 33-year-old stressed that Mexico can’t afford to give the ball away so easily against top teams like Italy and implied that his teammates were overcome by the occasion inside the Maracana.

“We have to have personality and not play with fear,” he said. “It’s one thing to respect the rival and another to be afraid. Today we were scared to have the ball and that has to change a lot to take on Brazil.”

Goalkeeper Jesus Corona described it as “a just result for Italy” and agreed with Salcido that Mexico gave the ball away too easily and lacked possession.

Coach Jose Manuel de la Torre accepted that Mexico had played a very good Italy side and that individuals’ moments of magic handed the European side victory.

“They made individuals’ talents count and at the end they made the difference,” he said, referring to Andrea Pirlo’s free-kick opener and Mario Balotelli’s 78th minute winner.

Mexico plays Brazil on Wednesday in its second match in the Confederations Cup.